24 Older People Who Unknowingly Shamed Themselves Online

It wouldn’t be fair to focus all the criticism on boomers for supposedly being out of touch with reality. Older generations have always clashed with their younger counterparts, and it has been happening for decades. 

University of California, Santa Barbara academics John Protzo and Jonathan Schooler published a 2019 study examining recurring complaints older folks have about the younger generation.

The two experts observed that people with authoritarian tendencies are much more likely to perceive younger people as “lacking” in something. 

“The ‘kids these days' effect is not just a general belief in societal decline,” the researchers wrote. “While people may believe in a general decline, they also believe that children are especially deficient in the traits in which they happen to excel.”

But if we’re talking about generational conflict, there hasn’t been one that is more heated than the clash between Baby Boomers and Millennials. There are even studies that examine this rift, including the supposed bias the former has against the latter regarding workplace issues. 

“Many Baby Boomers have expressed the desire to remain in the workforce longer, and some see Millennials—viewed by employers as cheaper and more adaptable—as standing in their way,” an excerpt from the 2023 study reads. 

Meanwhile, the study also found that millennials are also frustrated by how Baby Boomers critique their cultural contributions.

However, such conflicts aren’t always a bad thing. As cultural historian Lawrence Samuel points out, generational clashes have historically served as a means of progress for Americans. 

“While such divides no doubt create social tension and conflict, they are, all in all, a good thing, as they constantly renew the energy of our country and foster growth and innovation,” he wrote. 

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